Page 116 of Rewrite the Rules

It cannot be that simple.All this time? Just choose Adler. That’s it?

I miss her laugh, her crazy jokes, and her wild sarcasm. I miss how she makes me think with my heart more often than my head. I love how she’s too sweet and forgiving to actually get pissed off about peanuts on her noodles no matter how many times she’s asked for them without. If Felices had hands and Adler and I were dangling from separate cliffs, I have no doubt he’d let me plummet to my death. She was patient with all my issues and only ever tried to accommodate what I wanted and needed. It’s not right. I should’ve done the same. I should’ve seen it sooner. I was meant to be her first. Maybe her only.

If I could rewrite the entire story, I would. From day one. The very moment I laid eyes on her. The first time she told me to call her Baby Spice. How could I be so dim? I should’ve known what this was from the beginning. We were never just friends.

* * *

After dropping Dad off at the airport, I return home to the most bizarre scene. A two-hundred-and-fifty-pound former NFL tight end is lying on his back in the middle of my living room while making kissing noises at the tiny kitten sitting on his chest.

“Cody?”

“You got a delivery while you were out. See,thislittle thing I like.Thisis an appropriate size for a cat.”

The little thing Cody is referring to is stunning. She’s snow white with the most beautiful spotted markings. And she’s ferocious with the heart of a lion. Cody thinks she’s playing, but I’m certain she’s trying to make him her bitch the way she’s slapping him across the face with her tiny paws.

“They just left her with you?” I ask Cody who is using his fingers to pretend-box with the kitten. “Normally these breeders are very cautious about where their kittens go.”

“I don’t know.” Cody shrugs his shoulders against the carpet. “They just told me to sign and that Ms. Haley already handled everything. Her papers are on the counter.”

Of course, she did.

I flip through the blue folder on my kitchen island with all the information on the kitten’s parents, her pedigree, her medical history and her care instructions—that I don’t need, it’s not my first rodeo. The final page is the invoice. Vomit almost rises in my throat when I see the bottom-line number and the red ‘Paid in Full’ stamp next to it. I completely forgot it in the midst of my fallout with Adler. I meant to handle this and I missed the window. This kitten cost even more than Felices.Speaking of which…

“Where is Felices?”

“Your bedroom. Apparently, you’re not supposed to just stick the cats together. They are supposed to sniff each other through a door or some shit, I don’t know. It seemed like a lot of work so I just locked Felices in your room. Little Ms. DeeDee and I needed some space to bond.”

“You’re not naming my cat DeeDee.”

“Why not?” He looks truly offended.

“Because I know for a fact that DeeDee is the name of your favorite Hooters girl back in New York. I really wish I didn’t know that, but I do.”

“Fine. What’re you going to name her?”

“I don’t know. Think I’ll just call her Kitty for now. Adler should name her.”

Cody shoots up into a sitting position and the kitten slides down his chest. She digs her claws into his skin through his thin shirt trying to hang on. “Shit!” he squeals. “Easy, li’l miss. Are y’all talking again?”

“I want to.” I drop the folder on the counter and scoop the kitten off Cody’s lap. She begins purring immediately.That’s right. I’m your real dad.I peer into her large glinting eyes. She rubs her head against my hand, demanding attention, just like Felices. I tap Kitty’s nose and she rolls against my chest with her four paws flying straight up in the air. Playful little thing.

“So do it.”

“I know I didn’t get into it a few weeks ago, but I told her some really stupid stuff. I think I really hurt her.”

“Such as?”

“That I didn’t love her. That I never would.” I shrink, preparing for Cody’s reaction. I half expect him to throw something at me, but he merely shrugs. “Nothing?”

“I already knew all that—Quinn told me.”

“You gossip like a woman now, you know that?”

“You’re damn lucky I do.” Cody disappears from the kitchen down the hallway and returns a moment later with a pink paperback book.

“I’ve already read that.”

“No you haven’t.” He hands me the book, cover up. It’s a similar color toToy With Me, but a new title:Pretend With Me.“No chance you have because it’s not yet released. This is the author’s advance copy.”

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